The Blessed Buddha once said:Knowing that the other person is angry,The one who remains just aware and calmacts in and for his own best interest,and for the others' interest, too!Samyutta Nikāya I, 162

Exalted in mind, just open, and clearly aware,Is the recluse trained in the ways of the sages:One who is such, calmed and ever mindful,He has no sorrows!Udana IV,

Calm is his mind.Calm is his speech.Calm is his behaviour.So is the tranquillity of one freed by the insight of right understanding...Dhammapada 96

The dear companion can be the proximate cause for Mutual Joy, where onerejoices in another being's success... One thus rejoicing in others fortuneis called a 'boon companion', for he is constantly glad: He laughs first and speaks afterward! So he should be the first to be pervaded with gladness. Or on seeing a dear person being happy, cheerful and glad, mutual joy can be aroused thus: 'See this being is indeed glad! How good, how excellent!'Just as one would be glad at seeing a dear and beloved person very happy,exactly so does one pervade all other beings in all directions with mutual joy...Rejoicing mutual joy can also be aroused by remembering other's happiness in the past and recollecting the elated joy aspect in this way: 'In the past he had great wealth, a great following and he was always glad'. Or mutual joy can be aroused by apprehending the future glad aspect of his in this way: 'In the future he will again enjoy similar success and will go about in gold palanquins, on the backs of elephants or on horseback'. Having thus aroused mutual joy regarding a dear person, one can then direct the very same feelingsuccessively towards a neutral one, and gradually towards any hostile person.Vbh 274, Vism I 316

87 - The Buddhist path is walked from the inside out, not the outside in. It is not about following rules and ethical guidelines and getting rewarded for good behavior. It is about transforming our own hearts and minds, through the practices of compassion and inquiry. It is about the state of our awareness on a moment-by-moment basis. Sometimes, some 'rules' for living may help us in this transformation. Other times, they are not needed. We have to be honest enough with ourselves to know when we need them and when we do not.

89-This is a Theravadin text,you do not have to be in accord,as always

Friends:

Breakthrough to the Truths Safeguards Against Downfall Rebirth!

The Blessed Gotama Buddha once explained:Bhikkhus and friends, see this little bit of dust, I have taken up upon the nail of my little-finger? What do you think is most: This tiny bit of dust or this great Planet Earth? The Bhikkhus then responded: Venerable Sir, this great Planet Earth is much, much more, incomparably more. This speck of dust is trifling, microscopic, & negligible in comparison.

The Blessed Gotama Buddha then pointed out:Similarly & exactly so too, Bhikkhus, those who are reborn among human beings are few and quite rare, beings reborn elsewhere, lower, as non-humans are much more numerous and common. Why is it so? Because, Bhikkhus, they have not seen the 4 Noble Truths! What four? 1: This is Suffering; 2: Craving is the Cause of Suffering; 3: No Craving is the End of Suffering; 4: The Noble 8-fold Way Ends all Suffering.Therefore, Bhikkhus and friends, exertion should be made right Now to understand: All This is Suffering; This Greedy Craving is the sole Cause of all Suffering; No Craving is the End of Suffering; The Noble 8-fold Way Ends all Suffering. Therefore should effort to fathom these 4 Noble Truths be made right NOW!

Comments:Animals are much more common than humans (trillions of billions of insects and fish),since this rebirth at this level is much more common! Similarly with ghosts, demons, and hell beings. Downfall to these states are common, because evil and immoral actions such as Killing, Stealing, Lying, Sexually Abusing, Drinking and Drugging are common!Ethics is thus the core factor of creation and conditioning of any future being...Banthe,